2. Prospectus of "The Birds of America," as issued in 1828, when ten Numbers of the original folio were engraved. (Compare Ornithological Biography, vol. i, pp. 1-16, as supplementary text, at the end.)

Under the Particular Patronage and Approbation
of
His Most Gracious Majesty
BIRDS OF AMERICA
from
Drawings
made
During a Residence of Twenty-five Years
in
The United States and its Territories,
by
John James Audubon,
Citizen of the United States.

Member of the Lyceum of New York; Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh; of the Linnean Society of London; Member of the Wernerian Natural History Society of Edinburgh; of the Zoölogical Society, London; Fellow of the Society of Scottish Antiquaries; Member of the Society for promoting the useful Arts of Scotland; of the Literary and Philosophical Societies of Cambridge, Liverpool, and Newcastle-upon-Tyne; of the Horticultural Society of Edinburgh; of the Natural History Society of Manchester; of the Scottish Academy of Painting, Sculpture and Architecture, &c., &c.

PROSPECTUS.

To those who have not seen any portion of the Author's splendid Collection of Original Drawings it may be proper to explain, that their superiority consists in every specimen being of the full size of life, portrayed with a degree of accuracy as to proportion and outline, the result of peculiar means discovered and employed by the Author, and lately exhibited to a meeting of the Wernerian Society. Besides, in every instance where a difference of plumage exists between the two sexes, both the Male and Female Birds have been represented. The Author has not contented himself with single profile views of the originals, but in very many instances he has grouped them, as it were, at their natural avocations, in all sorts of attitudes, either on branches of trees, or amidst plants and flowers: some are seen pursuing with avidity their prey through the air, or searching diligently their food amongst the fragrant foliage; whilst others of an aquatic nature swim, wade, or glide over their allotted element. The Insects, Reptiles, or Fishes, that form the food of the birds, have been introduced into the drawings; and the nests of the birds have been frequently represented. The Plants are all copied from Nature, and the Botanist, it is hoped, will look upon them with delight. The Eggs of most of the species will appear in the course of the publication.

The Particulars of the Plan of the Work will be found detailed below:—

1. The Engravings in every instance to be of the exact dimensions of the Drawings, which, without any exception, represent the Birds of their natural size.

2. The Plates will be Coloured, in the most careful manner, from the original Drawings.

3. The Size of the work will be Double Elephant, and printed on the finest Drawing Paper.

4. Five Plates will constitute a Number; one Plate from one of the largest Drawings, one from one of the second size, and three from the smaller Drawings.

5. There are 400 Drawings; and it is proposed that they shall comprise Three Volumes, each containing about 133 Plates, to which an Index will be given at the end of each, to be bound up with the Volume.

6. Five Numbers will come out annually.

7. The Price of each Number will be Two Guineas; payable on delivery.

TEN Numbers being now completed, will give an exact idea of the nature and style of the Work. All the other Numbers will at least equal these in interest and execution. It would be advisable for the Subscribers to procure a Portfolio, to keep the Numbers till a Volume is completed.

⁂Persons desirous of becoming Subscribers are requested to apply to Mr. Audubon, or Mr. Robert Havell, Jun. (Engraver), 79, Newman Street, Oxford Street, London.

Where Specimens of the Work may be seen: or, to any of the following Agents:—Messrs. Treuttel, Würz & Co., Soho Square, and Mr. S. Highly, Fleet Street, London; MM. Levrault and Pitois, Paris; Messrs. Robinsons, Liverpool; Mr. T. Sowler, Manchester; Mr. M. A. Barclay, York; Messrs. Hernaman and Robinson, Leeds; Mr. E. Charnley, Newcastle-upon-Tyne; and J. B. Kidd, Esq., Edinburgh.